Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Clair Obscur Completes the Sweep by Winning “Best Game” at 2025-2026 BAFTA Games Awards
- Boss Fight Books Gets a New Look for Richard Moss’s “Age of Empires”
- GDC Awards: All the Winners from 1996 to Today
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Wins “Game of the Year” at 2025-2026 GDC Awards
- Silent Hill, Dragon Quest, Skyrim, and More Announced as Finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- We Pitched a Museum a 1993 Game Hint Line (And They Actually Said Yes) – Yarn Spinner (2026)
- The History Of The Word “Metroidvania” And How It Spread – A Critical Hit (2025)
- Creator of Hit Game Shovel Knight Is at a ‘Make or Break’ Moment – Bloomberg (2025)
- Shadow of the Colossus: An oral history – Design Room (2025)
- In 2005, games started rewiring our brains – The AV Club (2025)
Most Recent: 3DS
Latest Nintendo Direct dates Fire Emblem: Awakening, Brain Age 3DS, more
Another Nintendo Direct presentation is in the books and, while we didn’t get to see anything new, we did get a good idea on when some of next year’s big 3DS and Wii U titles will be available.
Hosted by Reggie Fils-Aime, the Nintendo of America President revealed that Lego City: Undercover, Game & Wario, and Wii Fit U will all be available in early 2013. They’ll be joined by a Google Maps Street View app, which will be available on the Wii U eShop.
The Big N also reiterated that Pikmin 3 is no longer a “launch window” title and will instead be released in Spring 2013. Also available next Spring will be Wii U Panorama View an entertainment app available exclusively on the Wii U eShop. A demo of the travelogue-like game will be made available to download before its release.
Over on the 3DS side of things, we’ve learned that Fire Emblem: Awakening will be released on February 4 and Brain Age: Concentration Training will be in stores less than a week later, on February 10. Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon is still scheduled for a Spring 2013 release.
Finally, two 3DS eShop titles were highlighted: Tokyo Crash Mobs, a Bust-A-Move-like game that involves throwing Tokyo residents into a mob of people; and Harmonite, an action platformer from Pokemon developer Game Freak that looks wild.
That’s it from this Nintendo Direct episode. If you want to see it for yourself, the video has been embedded above.
Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U
Tagged Brain Age: Devil Training, Fire Emblem: Awakening, Game & Wario, Lego City Undercover, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Pikmin 3, Wii Fit U
Nintendo Power’s last issue goes out in style
The final issue of Nintendo Power’s nearly quarter-century-long run is being delivered to subscribers now. It’s even possible to say that it’s the end of an era. Thankfully, Nintendo is sending their beloved official magazine off with a rather fitting tribute.
A Reddit user has posted a picture of the final cover and the claymation figures depicting a key moment in New Super Mario Bros. U that bears an uncanny resemblance to the cover of the first issue.
Yup, this is definitely the end of an era. Also, these tears running down my face are because of allergies. Yup, definitely allergies.
Nintendo Download: Aero Porter, Pac-Man, more
It’s Thursday, so welcome to your weekly dose of Nintendo Downloads. This week we’ve got another Level-5 collaboration for the 3DS, Aero Porter, yet another re-release of Pac-Man, and a pair of DSiWare titles.
More details? Why yes, we have them:
3DS eShop
Aero Porter – Level-5 and Yoot Saito team up to bring you Aero Porter, an airport simulation and puzzle game that will have you sorting luggage, expanding your airport’s operations and avoiding security mishaps. It’s your job to put your airport on the map and help it grow from a sleepy regional terminal to a bustling international hub.
Pac-Man – Control iconic character Pac-Man as you navigate through mazes, eating Pac-Dots and simultaneously avoiding devious ghosts. Warp from one edge of the maze to the other using tunnels, or eat a Power Pellet to turn the tables and make the ghosts vulnerable. Earn extra points to achieve the high score and see how far you can get before losing all your lives.
DSiWare
Invasion of the Alien Blobs! – A mysterious alien life form has appeared from outer space and is raging war against humanity. Use your stylus to take a stand against the invasion by squashing the alien blobs one at a time. With just 10 seconds to deal with each attack wave, you have no time for sightseeing as you travel the globe to fight off the blobs.
Bloons TD 4 – The monkeys are ready to take down the enemy from land, air and sea in this classic tower defense game. Using a ranking system, you can build up your experience and gain access to powerful towers and upgrades like mortar strikes and banana farms. Can you battle through all 75 rounds to earn the gold medal?
Posted in 3DS, DS, News
Tagged Aero Porter
Nintendo announces 3DS XL Mario Kart 7 bundle
Shoppers looking for a 3DS XL this holiday season will have another option beginning December 2 as Nintendo has announced the handheld will also be offered as a special Mario Kart 7 bundle.
The Blue/Black 3DS XL will retail for $199.99 and come with a copy of Mario Kart 7 pre-installed on the system. The basic 3DS XL pack also retails for $199.99, so you’re essentially getting Mario Kart 7 for free.
As long as you don’t get Blue Shelled when you’re first in the checkout line.
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged Mario Kart 7
Check out the first Etrian Odyssey IV trailer
Atlus has released the first trailer for Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan, which will be available for the 3DS on February 26, 2013.
Here’s what you can expect from the first game in the series to appear on the 3DS:
For centuries, the tree Yggdrasil has been a constant presence in the lives of the people of Tharsis. It looms on the horizon, visible from everywhere in the city. But its roots are in a far-off land where no one has ventured until the Outland Count of Tharsis sponsors an Explorers Guild to reach Yggdrasil and discover its secrets. You are the latest explorer arriving in Tharsis to seek your fame and fortune. Board your skyship and set out into the clouds in search of treasure, glory, and the answer to Tharsis’ oldest mystery.
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged Etrian Odyssey IV
Just Stop! Consoles Are NOT Headed For a Crash
When the Internet decides to collectively believe something that’s just not true, we have to cry out… Just Stop! This is what’s making a Warp Zoned editor rip his computer from the wall in frustration today…
Over the last few weeks, you’ve probably seen more than a few articles bemoaning the financial health of the retail games sector. Analysts and journalists have been carrying on about how this is the end of the line. That even with a generational jump looming, the gaming community has abandoned disc-based games for their iGadgets and their free-to-play Facebook counterparts.
No! Just Stop! YOU. ARE. WRONG. (more…)
Cyber Monday Game Deals 2012: Amazon
You didn’t think it was over did you? With Black Friday in our wake, it’s time for Cyber Monday and Amazon, of course, has posted some amazing deals.
Be sure to check out all of their Cyber Monday Lightning Deals and hit the jump for a look at some of their best all-day deals (which will be updating throughout the day).
Ready? Set? Shop! (more…)
New Releases: Ratchet & Clank Full Frontal Assault, More
The Fall gaming rush is over. After last week’s huge Wii U launch, there’s only a handful of new games left for the rest of the year (and only four this week).
At the top of the list is Sony’s “fun-sized” Ratchet & Clank game, Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault. The PS3 game, which carries a budget price of $19.99, will also be available to download from the PlayStation Network this week.
In addition to Full Frontal Assault, there’s a trio of handheld games: A Pets and Vets Bundle for the DS and American Mensa Academy and 50 Classic Games 3D for the 3DS.
See you next week!
Posted in 3DS, DS, News, PS3
Tagged Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault